BR’s 2026 Buccaneers’ 3-Round Mock Draft 4.0

Pros:

• Diverse Pass Rush Arsenal: He’s got a deep bag of tricks when rushing the passer, chaining together moves like swipes, arm-overs, and club-rips to keep offensive linemen on their toes.
• Explosive and Relentless: Mesidor bursts off the snap with amazing anticipation, turning that initial quickness into constant pressure. He can threaten the edge and then quickly cut inside with a “Euro step” move.
• Advanced Hand Combat: He’s a master at using his hands to defeat blockers, consistently beating them to the punch and setting up his moves with clever fakes and changes in direction.
• Smart and Opportunistic: He’s great at recognizing when tackles overcommit to protecting the edge, and he quickly counters by attacking inside gaps instead of running himself out of the play.
• Strong Against the Run: He sets a tough edge, sheds blocks effectively, and shows incredible hustle tracking the ball on run plays, using his quickness to disrupt blocking schemes.
• Scheme Versatility: Having played multiple positions, including nose tackle earlier in his career and both inside and outside at Miami, he offers defensive coordinators a lot of flexibility in how they use him.
• High Motor and Competitive: This guy plays with serious fire! He never gives up on a play, always working counter moves and chasing down opponents with outstanding effort until the whistle.
• Elite Coaching Advantage: He’s benefited immensely from being coached by NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor at Miami, which has really sharpened his technique and helped him become one of the most refined edge rushers out there.

Cons:

• Suboptimal Build for Edge: At 6’3″ with shorter arms than typically desired for an NFL edge rusher, he might struggle to establish a firm anchor and maintain leverage against more physically imposing offensive tackles.
• Inconsistent Power Conversion: His speed-to-power rush often doesn’t hold up against stout blockers, and his bull rush can be easily neutralized by tackles who absorb his initial charge effectively.
• Balance Issues Post-Contact: He has a tendency to narrow his base during contact, which compromises his balance and can lead to him tripping or falling when trying to make plays in the backfield.
• Over-Aggressive Run Pursuit: His eagerness to penetrate can sometimes be a detriment against the run, as he’s prone to overshooting his lane and vacating his assigned gap responsibility.
• Significant Injury History: Concerns about his durability are notable, stemming from multiple foot surgeries during his collegiate career at West Virginia and Miami, which led to him missing considerable playing time, including nearly all of the 2023 season.

Summary:

Mesidor’s film is really impressive. There’s a lot to be excited about. He’s got one of the most comprehensive pass rush arsenals in this draft class, and the way he seamlessly connects moves without missing a beat highlights a natural instinct for disrupting blockers. When you see him go up against top-tier tackles, it’s clear he relies on skillful technique and relentless effort, rather than just pure athletic gifts, to make plays. That kind of blend usually translates really well to the pros, where technique often trumps raw speed, and the fact that he was mentored by Jason Taylor only boosts confidence in his future growth and development.

Round – 2, Buccaneers’ Pick 46: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

HT: 6’4
WT: 238 lbs

Accolades:

• John Mackey Award (2025)
• William V. Campbell Trophy (2025)
• Unanimous All-American (2025)
• 2× First-team All-SEC (2024, 2025)

Video:

Pros:

• Explosive Seam Threat: This guy devours the middle of the field with his blistering sub-4.55 speed. Consistently putting defensive safeties on their heels.
• Velvet Hands: He’s got incredibly soft, natural hands that just vacuum up the football. Even when it’s thrown outside his reach – drops are a rarity.
• QB-Level Instincts: His background as a quarterback shines through, allowing him to instinctively sniff out the weak spots in zone coverage, a skill most TEs take ages to master.
• Route-Running Agility: For his build, he shows unexpected twitch and burst when coming out of his breaks, creating easy separation from linebackers who can’t keep up.
• Unmatched Catch Radius: With his long arms and a freakish 45.5-inch vertical, he transforms jump balls from 50/50 propositions into overwhelmingly favorable matchups for him.
• YAC Machine: Give him the ball, and he’s a handful. He consistently turns short receptions into significant gains, showcasing impressive wiggle and acceleration.
• Offensive Swiss Army Knife: While he thrived in the slot, his ability to align wide, inline, or even in the backfield as a decoy makes him a truly versatile weapon.
• High Ceiling, Proven Growth: His development since moving to tight end has been remarkable. Every year he’s shown consistent improvement.

Cons:

• Size Concerns: At a lean 239 pounds, he’s on the lighter side for a tight end, and that lack of bulk becomes apparent when he’s matched up against stronger defenders at the point of attack.
• Run Blocking Development: His run blocking is still a work in progress; he can struggle to hold his ground and is often pushed back by powerful defensive ends.
• Inconsistent Hands: After a stellar 2024, his drop rate saw a noticeable increase in 2025. This raises some concerns regarding his focus and consistency when he’s getting more targets.
• Contested Catch Battles: He’s had some ups and downs when fighting for the ball in traffic. Aggressive defensive backs can sometimes disrupt his positioning at the top of his routes.
• Limited Special Teams Value: With no collegiate special teams experience, he’ll need to make an immediate impact on offense to secure a roster spot, as that avenue for early contribution isn’t there for him.

Summary:

Stowers isn’t your conventional “Y” tight end. Any team projecting him into that role will be sorely mistaken. Instead, he arrives as one of the most dynamic receiving forces at the position in this draft. His potent mix of authentic speed, supreme body control, and natural ball skills provides an offensive upside that few other tight ends in this class can even approach. Bolstered by a staggering 45.5-inch vertical and a quarterback’s innate sense for reading defenses and settling into voids, Stowers is primed to be an immediate, versatile mismatch piece for any offense that knows how to use him.

Round – 3, Buccaneers’ Pick 77: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

HT: 6’1
WT: 234 lbs

Accolades:

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2025)
• Butkus Award (2025)
• Lombardi Award (2025)
• Chuck Bednarik Award (2025)
• Pony Express Award (2025)
• Unanimous All-American (2025)
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
• 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025)

Video:

Pros:

• Elite Range: Displays true sideline-to-sideline speed, allowing him to chase down outside runs and cover running backs in the passing game.
• Quick Run Diagnosis: Reads plays quickly and attacks downhill, consistently beating blockers to the spot.
• Powerful Hands: Uses violent hands to shed blocks and keep himself clean to make tackles.
• High Football IQ: Draws on his experience as a former quarterback to recognize formations and align the defense before the snap.
•  Effective Blitzer: Shows natural timing and skill at rushing the passer, consistently creating pressure on the quarterback.
• Ball Hawk: Has a knack for forcing fumbles, always looking to punch the ball out.
• Physical Tackler: An aggressive, old-school linebacker who punishes ball carriers with big hits.
• Proven Leader: A two-year captain who is the clear emotional leader of the defense.

Cons:

• Lacks Ideal Size: His smaller frame can be a liability, as he sometimes gets swallowed up by bigger offensive linemen.
•  Inconsistent Tackling: Will occasionally go for the big hit rather than wrapping up, leading to missed tackles.
•  Coverage Deficiencies: A work in progress in pass coverage, particularly when matched up against faster players in man-to-man situations.
• Average Athleticism: Doesn’t possess top-tier speed or athleticism, which could make it tough for him to cover today’s athletic tight ends.
•  Overly Aggressive: His tendency to play aggressively can sometimes cause him to overrun plays, leaving running lanes open.

Summary:

In a best-case scenario, Rodriguez becomes a key rotational linebacker who sees significant playing time on early downs and contributes immediately on special teams. His work ethic and leadership will help him maximize his athletic ability, potentially allowing him to outplay his draft spot. While he may never be an every-down player in today’s pass-heavy NFL, Rodriguez has the versatility, production, and character to carve out a long career as a reliable depth player trusted by coaches.